LUKE 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and He turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to Me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?

Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be My disciple.”

Reflection

Detachment: The most striking word in the first saying on discipleship is “hate.” However, this word does not refer to a loathing of one’s family but, rather, is a semitic way of expressing absolute and total detachment from. Luke is saying that the family of a follower of Jesus takes second place to Jesus. A disciple’s loyalty is first of all to Jesus.

Just as one must be detached from one’s family, so must a disciple be detached from his or her own life. A person’s commitment to Jesus must be more important even than devotion to his or her own life. Discipleship demands that a person carry the cross – which for Luke’s community was a real possibility – and put Jesus first in one’s own life.

Such a commitment to Jesus’ way involves careful calculation; a person must realistically assess discipleship before embracing it. This should be done in the same way as a farmer who prepares to build a tower or a king who wishes to avoid subjection to alien rule.

The final saying emphasizes complete detachment from material possessions.

Luke believes that wealth is given to some people so that they can share what they have with others.

Authentic discipleship demands that those who have riches are always sharing what they have with those who have none. This demonstrates one’s detachment from material possessions and is what the Giver of all good gifts wills that His people do.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph